|
AUS – COW GENES TO HELP OBESITY FIGHT
4 October 2005. CSIRO Media Release
Tomorrow's cow to tackle obesity
New information from the genes of cows can help in the fight against human obesity, says Dr Steve Kappes, Deputy Administrator of Animal Production and Protection at the US Department of Agriculture.
Speaking at CSIRO's Horizons in Livestock Sciences conference on the Gold Coast (4 October 2005), Dr Kappes will discuss the impact of the bovine genome project on livestock production and human health.
The bovine genome project involved researchers from around the world, including CSIRO, who have analysed the complete set of DNA sequences for a cow – its genome.
The full genome sequence for the cow was published on an international public database in June. This information provides a powerful new tool for researchers exploring the biology of cows and other mammals.
“One of the areas where we see the bovine genome can have an impact on obesity and human health is in the area of feed efficiency,” Dr Kappes says.
“The bovine genome data is helping us to identify the genes responsible for high-nutrient uptake in cows. We think some of these genes may also influence high-nutrient uptake in humans.”
Recent reports claim up to two-thirds of Americans are overweight and a third are obese.
“Obesity is a big concern in a lot of developed countries,” Dr Kappes says.
“Obviously we need to change our diets and lifestyles but if we can identify some of the genes that make a person more prone to obesity – or less prone – then you can begin to manage the risk of obesity in individuals.”
Certain groups, for example, might be more genetically susceptible to obesity from consuming processed sugars.
“Once we have a better understanding of the biochemical intricacies of obesity, we can develop diets for people more susceptible to processed sugars and for other health conditions,” Dr Kappes says.
Genomic research in cattle and sheep will shed light on this process.
“By looking at the phenotypes of these animals – the animal's genetic makeup coupled with environmental influences – we can identify different aspects of the biochemical process involved in nutrient uptake.”
This information is likely to be similar for humans, due to the genetic similarity of many mammals.
Dr Kappes says the National Institute of Health in the US's decision to fund half the cost of sequencing the bovine genome clearly indicates the importance human health authorities place on the project.
|
